JP3497107B2 - Method and apparatus for determining suspended matter in container - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-container suspended matter discriminating method and an in-container suspended matter discriminating apparatus for discriminating foreign matter floating in a transparent or translucent container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a drip solution is filled in a container such as a drip pack, foreign matter such as insects, dust, and hair may be mixed together at the time of filling even if careful attention is paid. In order to exclude such a drip pack as a defective product from the product, conventionally, the presence or absence of a foreign substance in the drip pack has been determined using a laser scanner or a television camera.

[0003]

In the prior art using a television camera, since the detection sensitivity is too low to be detected by ordinary binarization, the video signal is differentiated to enhance the brightness change and to detect a foreign substance. The change in brightness of is detected. However, since air bubbles are often contained in the container and both foreign matter and bubbles cause a change in brightness, it is difficult to distinguish between foreign matter and bubbles from the moment when differential processing is performed to increase detection sensitivity. In addition, when the content surface and the like are printed and displayed on the surface of the container, it is impossible to distinguish the foreign matter from the printed display. Therefore, if air bubbles are present or if there is a printed display, etc., it is erroneously detected as a foreign substance, and as a result, there is a problem in the reliability of the quality of the product after discrimination, and in addition, it is a good product that does not actually contain a foreign substance. However, there was a problem that it was rejected as a defective product and the yield of the product deteriorated. The method of detecting irregular reflection on the surface of a foreign substance by a laser with a high-sensitivity light receiving element and detecting the foreign substance from the element current according to the amount of received light cannot distinguish between bubbles and foreign matters at all. As a matter of course, if there is a print indication, etc., it is erroneously detected as a foreign matter, and as a result, there is a problem in the reliability of the quality of the product after discrimination, and in reality it is a non-defective product that does not contain foreign matter. There was a problem that it was rejected as a non-defective product and the yield of the product deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and clearly distinguishes only foreign matter such as insects, dust, and hair from bubbles in the suspended matter in a transparent or translucent container. By detecting, it is possible to exclude only the container in which foreign matter is mixed from the product, and to provide a method and apparatus for determining the suspended matter in the container, which can effectively improve the quality and yield of the product. To do. or,
Another object of the present invention is to detect only foreign matter such as insects, dust, and hair from the suspended matter in the transparent or semi-transparent container by distinguishing them from the air bubbles and the printed display on the container surface and clearly detecting the foreign matter. By removing only the mixed container from the product,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for identifying suspended matter in a container and an apparatus therefor capable of effectively improving product quality and yield.

[0005]

The method for discriminating suspended matter in a container according to claim 1 of the present invention enables discrimination between foreign matter such as insects, dust and hair floating in a transparent or translucent container and bubbles. A method for determining suspended matter in a container, wherein a transmissive light source that irradiates transmitted light that permeates the inside of the container, a light source for reflection that is provided on the opposite side of the transmissive light source across the container, and the light source for reflection A half mirror that reflects the light from the light source and irradiates the container with light having the same optical axis as the transmitted light, by relatively adjusting the light amounts of the transmitted light source and the light source for reflection,
It is characterized in that the bubbles appearing at high brightness and the foreign matter appearing at low brightness are discriminated by the difference in brightness. Container flotage-size BetsuSo location according to claim 2 of the present invention, transparent or insects floating translucent container, dust, determine the possible and vessel suspended matter to distinguish between foreign substances and bubbles hair like An apparatus, which is a transmission light source that irradiates the transmitted light that passes through the container so that the irradiation light amount can be adjusted, and a reflection that is provided on the opposite side of the transmission light source with the container interposed, and that irradiates the irradiation light amount that is adjustable. A light source, and a half mirror that reflects light from the reflecting light source to irradiate the container with light having the same optical axis as the transmitted light,
An inspection camera for picking up an image of the container irradiated with the light from the transmissive light source and the light source for reflection and outputting an image signal for each image frame or field is provided. The in-container floating substance discrimination device according to claim 3 of the present invention is a container in-floating substance discrimination device capable of discriminating foreign matter such as insects, dust, and hair floating in a transparent or translucent container from bubbles. There is an action inducing means for inducing a flow in the liquid in the container to induce movement in the foreign matter and bubbles, and a transmitted light that passes through the container is irradiated toward the container so that the irradiation light amount can be adjusted. A transmissive light source, and a reflective light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the transmissive light source with the container sandwiched therebetween and that irradiates the light reflected by the suspended matter in the container toward the container so that the irradiation light amount can be adjusted, An inspection camera that outputs an image signal for each frame or field of an image by injecting transmitted light and light reflected by the floating material, a memory that stores the image signal output by this inspection camera, and a non-defective sample container Images of sliced images Slice image memory for storing as,
An inspection image memory for storing an image of a container to be inspected, a first difference detecting means including a difference detector for detecting a difference between image frames or fields of these slice image memory and inspection image memory, and (1) Second difference detecting means for detecting and outputting a difference between an image frame or field of a front image and an image frame or field of a rear image of an output image of the difference detecting means, and included in output information of the second difference detecting means It is characterized in that it is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not it is a non-defective product based on the change situation of the coordinate position of the floating object or the change situation of the area or shape of the floating object. When the image of the non-defective sample container whose surface is printed and displayed is captured by the inspection camera, the apparatus for determining suspended solids in a container according to claim 4 of the present invention edits and displays the image. It is characterized by comprising an editing means for creating an image of the sample container from which the data has been deleted as the slice image.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a transparent or semi-transparent container having a light-transmitting property. Examples of the container 1 include a drip pack, a drug container made of glass or plastic, a beverage container, an industrial liquid storage pack, and the like. The container 1 is used by being filled with a liquid according to various uses.
At the time of filling the liquid, there are cases in which various floating substances that float in the air or adhere to the container, the liquid injecting means, or the like are mixed. In addition to air bubbles,
Foreign matter such as insects, dust, and hair is assumed. The air bubbles have no influence on the quality of the product even if they float in the container 1, but the container 1 in which the above-mentioned foreign matter is mixed must be excluded from the product as a defective product. A transmission light source 2 is arranged so as to face the container 1. The transmitted light source 2 irradiates the container with the transmitted light 2a that passes through the container 1, and the irradiation light amount can be adjusted. A reflection light source 3 is arranged on the opposite side of the transmissive light source 2 with the container 1 interposed therebetween. The light 3a from the reflection light source 3 is irradiated toward the container 1 in order to obtain the light reflected by the suspended matter in the container 1, and the irradiation light amount can be adjusted. The light 3 a emitted from the reflection light source 3 can be emitted to the container 1 via the half mirror 4. In addition, reference numeral 5 in the figure denotes a diffusion plate for preventing shading (luminance unevenness on the screen).

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an optical state when the bubble A and the foreign matter B floating in the container 1 are irradiated with the transmitted light 2a and the reflected light 3a. Assuming that FIG. 2 (1)
As shown in (a), the amount of transmitted light 2a is excessively strong,
When the light amount of the light 3a is excessively weak, as shown in FIG. 2 (1) (a), the outer periphery of the bubble A is recognized as high brightness by the transmitted light 2a having high intensity, but its inside is reflected. Since the intensity of the light for use 3a is weak, it is perceived in a state in which the intensity of the transmitted light 2a having a high intensity becomes a shadow and becomes dark, and the brightness is low. On the other hand, as shown in (3) and (A) of FIG.
When the amount of light is excessively weak and the amount of light 3a is excessively strong, the outer periphery of the bubble A becomes dark because the intensity of the transmitted light 2a is weak and the brightness is low, as shown in (3) and (a) of FIG. Be recognized. However, inside thereof, the shadow of the transmitted light of low intensity is canceled by the light of high intensity 3a, and the light is recognized as white and high in brightness. Then, as shown in (2) and (A) of the same figure, by adjusting the light amount of the transmitted light 2a and the light amount of the light 3a, as shown in (2) and (A) of the same figure, the entire bubble becomes white. It shines and is recognized with high brightness. On the other hand, regarding the foreign matter B such as insects, dust, and hair, as shown in (4) and (A) of FIG.
Since the entire shape is irregular rather than spherical like the bubble A, the light 3a is diffusely reflected as shown in the figure, and as a result, when observed from the outside, the foreign matter B is the same. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the transmitted light 2a becomes a shadow and is recognized as a black state with low brightness. In this way, the light amount of the transmitted light 2a and the light 3a for obtaining the reflected light is adjusted by the light amount adjusting means (not shown), so that the bubble A is entirely white as shown in FIG. Since the foreign matter B can be optically distinguished by displaying it with high brightness and the foreign matter B with black and low brightness, for example, as shown in FIG. The foreign matter B and the air bubble A can be discriminated by disposing an inspection camera K which receives the light 3a for reflection and performing image processing. Therefore, the container 1 in which the bubbles A and the foreign matter B are mixed
Only those can be accurately discriminated and eliminated, so that the product quality can be improved and the product yield can be improved.

Embodiment 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the second embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 6 is a motion inducing means for inducing a flow in the container 1 and inducing movement in bubbles and foreign matter.
The motion inducing means 6 may be configured to induce a flow in the container 1 by rotating the container 1, for example. Therefore, for example, the motion inducing means 6 can be composed of a grip portion 6a for gripping the upper and lower portions of the container 1 and a support rod 6b for rotatably supporting the grip portion 6a in the horizontal direction as shown in the drawing. As a result, a flow for horizontally rotating bubbles and foreign matter is generated in the container 1. In addition to rotating the container 1, the motion inducing means 6 moves the container 1 up,
It may be one that induces a flow by swinging downward, left, or right. An inspection camera K is arranged facing the container 1, and the inspection camera K images the container 1 and outputs an image signal for each image frame or each field. A memory 7 is provided downstream of the inspection camera K, and the memory 7 stores the image signal output by the inspection camera K for each image frame or each field as density information. In this case, as described in the first embodiment, by adjusting the light amounts of the transmissive light source 2 and the reflective light source 3, the bubbles are exposed with high brightness and the foreign matter is displayed in black. After the container to be inspected is installed and the container is rocked, the inspection camera K captures an image after a certain period of time elapses, and the image capture result is output and stored in the memory 7. A first difference detecting means 8 is provided in the latter stage of the memory 7, and a second difference detecting means 9 is further provided in the latter stage thereof. The floating objects are tracked by comparing the image signals between them, and the floating objects that move (fall) downward in the container are detected as foreign objects, or the shape or area of the floating objects changes. A discriminating means 11 for discriminating the foreign matter by detecting the foreign matter is configured.

The first difference detecting means 8 specifically includes a slice image memory 8a stored in advance,
An inspection image memory 8b for storing the frame or field of the inspection image to be inspected from the memory 7, and both memories 8b
and a difference detector 8c for obtaining the difference between the frames or fields of the images stored in a and 8b. The slice image memory 8a stores an image of a non-defective sample container that does not contain any foreign matter for each frame or each field. As the difference detector 8c, one that subtracts a frame or a field is adopted. In this way, the first difference detection unit 8 extracts an image having a blackish appearance that is greater than a certain value that is previously stored in the slice image memory 8a. The constant value is an image (slice image) of a non-defective sample container having no foreign matter at all. In this way, only an image having a brightness equal to or lower than a certain level, which is considered to be a defective product, is sliced and extracted. The first difference detecting means 8 is provided with an editing means 8f for storing the edited result in the slice image memory 8a after the output image of the memory 7 is fetched through the switch 8e and the editing process is executed.

The second difference detecting means 9 specifically detects the difference between the frame or field of the preceding image in the preceding image memory 9a and the frame or field of the succeeding image in the succeeding image memory 9b. And output it. For fetching the previous image frame or field into the front image memory 9a and the rear image memory 9b, the switch 9d is alternately switched to alternately fetch the output from the difference detector 9c into the front image memory 9a and the rear image memory 9b. Done by In order to detect the difference, the difference detector 9c can find the difference between the output of the front image memory 9a and the output of the rear image memory 9b.

As a result of the slice processing of the first difference detecting means 8, the bright image is discarded and the dark image is extracted as a floating matter, and the change in the coordinates of the extracted floating matter and the change in the area are caused. The output which is obtained by the second difference detecting means 9 and includes such information is the suspended matter descent detecting means 2.
0 is output to the area / shape detecting means 21. The floating substance descent detection means 20 determines that the floating substance is moving downward in the container as a foreign substance, and outputs an NG signal. The area / shape detection means 21 judges that the area or shape of the suspended matter is changed as a foreign matter, and N
Output G signal. From the above processing results, N is obtained from both the suspended matter descending detection means 20 and the area / shape detection means 21.
If the G signal is not output, it can be determined that the product is good.

Usually, comparing the foreign matter in the liquid and the bubbles after the motion is given, the bubbles move upward or laterally, but since the foreign matter descends, the suspended matter descending detection means 20 in this process. Then, it is determined that the floating substance is descending (the downward movement of the coordinate position is detected) and the foreign substance is determined. Further, in the liquid, the area or shape viewed from the inspection camera K is always constant in the case of bubbles and does not change, but in the case of insects, dust, hair, fibers, etc., the inspection camera in the process of moving in the liquid. When viewed from K, its area or shape constantly changes. In this processing, the area / shape detecting means 2
Detect the change in the area or shape of the floating object in 1
In this case, the foreign matter is determined.

Only by the processing result by the first difference detecting means 8, the area or shape and the coordinate position of the floating matter having the brightness of a certain level or lower (the image darker than the image of the non-defective container) can be discriminated, but it is a still image. As such, it is not possible to determine how these are changing. Then, the second difference detecting means 9 is added to detect these on the time axis to discriminate the area or shape of the floating material and the change of the coordinate position to detect the floating material descent detecting means 20 and the area / shape. It outputs to the detection means 21. In this way, since the foreign substances are discriminated by performing the two-step difference processing, the product quality and the product yield can be improved.

The circuit configuration of this example can be realized by software processing of a microcomputer. However, if the processing speed of this microcomputer is not so fast, the area of suspended matter is detected so that the processing speed is fast. If is adopted, the shape of the suspended matter is detected.
Detecting the shape enables more realistic and highly accurate detection.

By the way, an indication indicating the type of contents is usually displayed on the surface of the container by a concave press treatment or the like,
If such a container is processed as it is, the printed display becomes an obstacle and the foreign matter cannot be discriminated, but in the present embodiment, such inconvenience can be solved.

First, a predetermined constant value is stored in the slice image memory 8a. This constant value can be obtained as follows. First, a non-defective sample container which is printed on the surface of the container 1 but is free from foreign matter and bubbles is prepared. Inspection camera K for this sample container
To image. At this time, the changeover device 8e is changed over to edit the image of the inspection camera K by the editing means 8f, and the image shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the editing unit 8f creates an image signal including the print display detection signal M but not the foreign matter detection signal and the bubble detection signal, and the image frame or field is captured in the slice image memory 8a. In this way, the editing unit 8f searches for a portion where printing or the like is present, edits the portion in the same manner as the surrounding luminance information where there is no printing, and stores it in the slice image memory 8a. As a result of this editing work,
As shown in (c), the slice image from which the print display detection signal M has been erased (threshold value per pixel), that is, the predetermined constant value can be obtained. To describe this more specifically, the editing unit 8f obtains the print-displayed address and the non-printed-display address, and the brightness data of the non-printed part is obtained from the printed part. Replace with brightness data. As a result, the data in the printed area becomes the same as the data in the unprinted area, and in this way, an image as if the printed display had been erased is obtained as a non-defective sample image, and the slice image memory The image of the non-defective sample whose display is erased is stored in 8a, and the inspection image memory 8 is stored as described above.
Difference processing is performed for each image frame or each field with the inspection image of b.

Next, the sample container is removed, the container 1 to be inspected is placed on the motion inducing means 6 and is rotated, and then is rested again. Floats as suspended matter. Next, as described in the first embodiment, the light amount of the transmissive light source and the light source for reflection 3 is adjusted so that the bubbles appear white with high brightness and the foreign matters appear black with low brightness. Next, the inspection camera K is operated to capture an image of the container 1, and the image signal thereof is continuously stored in the memory 7 as needed. In this case, as described above, the bubbles appear in high brightness, the foreign matter appears in low brightness, and the print display also appears in low brightness, so that the image signals of two image frames or fields consecutive in time are As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the bubble detection signal N appears on the positive side, and the print display detection signal M and the foreign matter detection signal P appear on the negative side. Here, since the foreign matter moves downward or laterally, the foreign matter detection signal P is detected in both image signals.
However, the print display detection signal M appears at the stopped position. Next, in the first difference detecting means 8, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), a predetermined constant value after editing obtained from the non-defective sample stored in the slice image memory 8a (in FIG. 5). (Indicated by the one-dot chain line) to obtain the difference between the image signal values of the two consecutive image frames or fields. Then, the same figure (c),
As shown in (d), image signals of two image frames or fields in which the signs of the print display detection signal M and the foreign matter detection signal P are inverted appear. Here, since the bubble detection signal N is on the negative side as shown by the dotted line in the figure, it is judged to be substantially zero and is erased. In this way, slices based on slice images can be made as described above.

Next, when the second difference detecting means 9 subtracts between the two image signals of two consecutive image frames or fields shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the difference is obtained. ), Since the print display is a fixed position of the container, the print display detection signals M, M cancel each other and are erased, and as a result, only the foreign matter detection signals P, P remain and the coordinate position of the foreign matter. Will be detected. However, in the same figure (e), one foreign matter detection signal P is displayed with its sign inverted. In this way, by using the editing means 8f, it is possible to clearly distinguish the foreign matter not only from the bubbles but also from the printed display, and therefore, the floating substance descending detection means 20.
Further, the area / shape detecting means 21 outputs a processed image in which there are no bubbles and images for print display, and the coordinate position, area, or shape of the floating object changes, and the quality of the container is determined.
Therefore, the product quality can be improved and the product yield can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, in place of the half mirror 4, it is desirable to adopt a vertical parabolic concave half mirror 4A that bulges in the direction of the inspection camera K and is concave on the container side. . This is a flat half mirror 4
Then, the reflection on the container surface becomes strong, and the suspended matter inside cannot be sufficiently emphasized by the transmitted light. However, when the concave half mirror 4A is used, the light becomes scattered light, so that the shape of the container surface is changed. You can get an image without shadow and without specular reflection. That is, an image having the same brightness can be obtained evenly on the surface of the container. Therefore, the suspended matter due to the transmitted light can be uniformly emphasized at any place, and the bubbles can be surely lit white.

[0024]

As described above, according to the method for discriminating suspended matter in a container according to the invention described in claim 1, the light from the light source for reflection is reflected and the light having the same optical axis as the transmitted light is transferred to the container. By irradiating the light source to each other and adjusting the light amounts of the transmissive light source and the reflective light source relative to each other, the bubbles can be expressed with high brightness, while the foreign matter can be expressed with low brightness, and both are optically clear. Therefore, it is possible to exclude only the container in which the foreign matter is mixed as a defective product from the product and improve the quality of the product. Further, since the product in which only bubbles other than foreign matter are mixed is not rejected, the product yield can be improved. Further, according to the container flotage-size BetsuSo location according to the invention of claim 2, it can be eliminated from the product only container foreign matter is mixed as defective,
The quality of the product can be improved. Further, since the product in which only bubbles other than foreign matter are mixed is not rejected, the product yield can be improved. Further, according to the in-container floating substance discriminating apparatus according to the invention described in claim 3 , by performing the two-step difference processing from the image signals output by the inspection camera provided facing the container,
Both the downward movement of the floating material and the change status of the area or shape of the floating material can be discriminated, and the foreign matter can be discriminated with a simple configuration. According to the in-container floating substance discriminating apparatus according to the invention as set forth in claim 4 , the printed display portion is erased from the image of the sample container having the printed display, the slice image is outputted, and the difference from the inspection image is obtained. Since the processing is performed, it is possible to determine the non-defective product even for the container having the print indication.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an output waveform diagram of the inspection camera for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an image signal waveform diagram of the inspection camera for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Container, 2 Transmission Light Source, 3 Reflection Light Source 6 Action Inducing Means, 7 Memory, 8 First Difference Detection Means, 9 Second
Difference detecting means, 11 Discriminating means.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 21/84-21/958

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An insect floating in a transparent or translucent container,
What is claimed is: 1. A method for distinguishing suspended solids in a container, which enables distinction between foreign matter such as dust and hair and bubbles, wherein a transmissive light source that irradiates transmitted light that penetrates the inside of the container and an opposite side of the transmissive light source that sandwiches the container. A reflection light source provided on the side, and a half mirror that reflects the light from the reflection light source to irradiate the container with light having the same optical axis as the transmitted light, and the light amounts of the transmission light source and the reflection light source. The method for distinguishing suspended solids in a container, characterized in that a bubble that appears at high brightness and a foreign object that appears at low brightness are distinguished based on the difference in brightness by relatively adjusting the. 2. An insect floating in a transparent or translucent container,
An apparatus for determining suspended matter in a container capable of distinguishing foreign matter such as dust and hair from bubbles, wherein a transmissive light source for irradiating the transmitted light transmitted through the inside of the container with adjustable irradiation light amount and the container A reflection light source that is provided on the opposite side of the transmitted light source and irradiates the light with an adjustable irradiation light amount, and a half mirror that reflects the light from the reflection light source and irradiates the container with light having the same optical axis as the transmitted light. And an inspection camera that images the container irradiated with the light from the transmissive light source and the light source for reflection and outputs an image signal for each image frame or field. 3. An insect floating in a transparent or translucent container,
An in-container suspended matter discriminating apparatus capable of discriminating foreign matter such as dust and hair from bubbles, and motion inducing means for inducing a flow in the liquid in the container to induce movement in the foreign matter and bubbles. , A transmissive light source that irradiates the transmissive light that passes through the container toward the container so that the irradiation light amount can be adjusted, and a transmissive light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the transmissive light source with the container sandwiched therebetween, and is reflected by suspended matter in the container. The light source for reflection that irradiates the light to the container so that the irradiation light amount can be adjusted, and the transmitted light and the light reflected by the floating material are incident to output an image signal for each frame or field of the image. Inspection camera, a memory for storing the image signal output from the inspection camera, a slice image memory for storing the image of the non-defective sample container as a slice image, an inspection image memory for storing the image of the container to be inspected, First difference detecting means including a difference detector for detecting a difference between image frames or fields of both images of the equal slice image memory and the inspection image memory, and an image frame of a previous image of an output image of the first difference detecting means or Second difference detecting means for detecting and outputting a difference between the field and an image frame of the subsequent image or the field, and the second difference detecting means.
Floating in a container, characterized in that it is provided with a discrimination means for discriminating whether or not it is a non-defective product based on the change situation of the coordinate position of the floating matter or the change state of the area or shape of the floating matter included in the output information of the difference detecting means. Object discriminating device. 4. When an image of a non-defective sample container having a printed display on its surface is taken in by the inspection camera, the image is edited and the image of the sample container whose display is erased is converted into the slice image. The in-container suspended matter discriminating apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising an editing unit that creates an image.